Signals & methodology FAQ

Consumer-driven rating computed from verified post-intro reviews.

What does the ★ Rating represent?

The average of verified consumer reviews left after a Freedom Score intro. Reviews are only accepted from consumers we can confirm were actually introduced to that professional through our platform.

Why do some pros show “No reviews yet”?

The professional has been vetted and listed, but no verified consumer has left a review since they joined. New listings, low-volume specialties, and pros who mostly work outside our intro flow will sit here longer.

How are fake or retaliatory reviews handled?

Reviews are tied to a real intro record. Consumers can only rate a pro they were actually introduced to, and pros cannot delete individual reviews. Our team removes reviews that violate our review policy (harassment, personally identifying info, off-topic).

A credential and firm check performed by the Freedom Score team before a pro is listed.

What does the ✓ Vetted badge mean?

Before a professional is listed, our team reviews their license (where applicable), firm affiliation, credentials, and public disciplinary history. Only pros who pass this review are marked Vetted and shown on results.

Is Vetted an endorsement?

No. Vetted means we verified the credentials the pro claims — not that we personally recommend them for your situation. Use the Rating, response time, and your own intro conversation to decide who to work with.

How often are vetting checks refreshed?

License and disciplinary checks are re-run periodically and whenever a pro updates their profile. A pro who loses required credentials is removed from results within one review cycle.

A rolling 90-day median of how quickly a pro replies to intro requests.

How is “Responds in ~Xh” computed?

It is the median time between a consumer submitting an intro request and the pro sending their first reply, measured across the last 90 days of responded intros.

Why is it hidden on some cards?

We only show it when the pro has at least 3 responded intros in the trailing 90 days. Below that, the sample is too small to be a reliable signal, so we display “Response time N/A” instead of a misleading number.

Does an unresponded intro count against a pro?

The indicator only measures response speed for intros that were actually responded to. Non-responses are tracked separately for our internal quality reviews and can lead to a listing being paused, but they do not inflate or deflate the visible number.